Martin Conway (Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I, too, welcome the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Deputy Coveney, to the House and acknowledge the phenomenal work that he is doing on behalf of this country, not just on this hugely important issue but on Brexit. We have all seen over the last few days and weeks the Brexit situation and the difficult challenges faced by the Minister. Brexit and legacy proposals are interwoven because we are talking about the British Government. On that note, I acknowledge my dear friend and colleague, Senator Currie, for tabling this motion. I thank her for putting it on the agenda of Seanad Éireann that we do not approve of what is happening and do not approve of the unilateral action by the British Government in terms of what it seeks to do to the victims of the Troubles.

There have been victims of the Troubles on all sides. It is true that the Good Friday Agreement probably did not address matters in the detail that we would have liked in terms of what happens with a truth and reconciliation process going forward. The Good Friday Agreement, however, was extremely important at the time. It was probably as good a deal as could have been achieved to bring peace to this country, both North and South, because the people of the South wanted peace as much as the people in the North. What was achieved, both North and South, through a referendum and the overwhelming results achieved reflected the mood of the people at the time. It was not possible to achieve everything that we wanted back then. It is extremely important that we are debating this motion today, especially when one thinks of the people who have passed through these Houses. Specifically, I recall Senator Currie's dad who recently reached 82 years of age and the remarkable service that he gave to this State, both North and South. Let us think of Gordon Wilson, John Hume and, his wife, Pat Hume and what they have given. They would not be at all happy with a unilateral approach by the British Government. That is why the current generation, as the guardians of this island, have a duty to the victims to call out what is wrong, articulate their views and seek justice.

As has been said this evening, and before this debate I reflected on it, in Germany there are people in their late 90s who are being brought to court for crimes that date back to the 1940s. That is appropriate and right because the people who suffered back then deserve justice. In the same way, the people who have suffered on this island deserve justice. This House is making a very powerful statement when we can unite all parties, all political persuasions and all personalities to send the clear message that we do not agree with the approach and it is wrong. If something is wrong then it is wrong and when it is wrong, we call it out.

The Minister has the tough job of dealing with the British Government at the moment. I truly believe that he is the right person to deal with these matters because he has a calm temperament and is patient beyond belief. What he has already achieved for this country is remarkable and I have no doubt that he will achieve more. He needs the support of this House and he needs this motion to be passed unanimously to further equip him to do his job. This motion is probably the most important motion that this House has dealt with since the current Seanad was formed. I am very proud, as Senator Black and others have said, that we will unite as one behind Senator Currie and this motion because it is the right thing to do.